Signal device for automobiles



W. l. BRUEHL.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES. AAAAAAAA um FILED MAY 24 1920.

1,369,006. Patented` Feb. 22, 1921.

l'i izo `//6' MTM/Vm? WALTER J. BRUEHL, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

y SIGNAL DEVICE FR'AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application sied May 24, i920; serial No. 383,774.

VTo all whom tmay concern Be it known that I, l/VALTnn J. BRUEHL, acitizen of the United4 States, residing at Buffalo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful vImprovementin Signal Devices for Automobiles, of which tliefollowing is a.specilication. v v y This invention .relates to semaphores or signaldevices for use on automobiles for the purpose of indicating a change inthe course or'inotion of thevehi'cle and the direction in which itisabout yto turn.

One object of the invention is to provide a signaling device ofthisnature which Awill' not' detract from kthe neat appearance of thevvvehicle on which it is used, and which is of e`X- ceedingly simpleandfinexpensive construction, such that-the devicecan .A be readilymounted in proper position on the vehicle by an unskilled person bymeansof ordinary tools. A

4Other objects of the invention are to construct the device of alminimum number of parts arranged so that the device will not be bulky orcumbersome or complicated,andVV Vcharacter stated in the respectshereinafter described and 'set'forth in the claims. V

In the accompanying drawings z- Figure 1is aV fragmentary side elevationof an automobileprovi'ded with a signal device embodying the invention.V

Fig. 2 'is .an ,enlargedvsectional elevation thereof on line722, Fig. 1showing the 4semaphore arm in its extended position. y

i Fig. `3 is a sectional plan view thereof y n a.' guide holevr 19 inthebase plate of the l. on a still'larger scale on line 3 8, Fig. 1.

member.'

Fig. 4: is a Adetail sectional elevation showing the catch forreleasably holding the semaphore arm in its different positions.

on Which the device is mounted for swinging the arm to and from aposition in which it projects outwardly `from the vehicle, oi' can bereadily seen and gives the intended signal.

terial andl may be of any suitable shape.

in which it extends outwardly from the door or wall,l but the semaphorecould be diferentlyplaced on the vehicle so long as the arm cany swingto a position suitable for signaling purposes. The brackety or. support11 shown is made "of sheet metal and comprises aV base plate 12 adaptedto bear or hole in the door or part of the vehicle y hesemaphore arm 10may be madeof a I thin piece. of wood or of other suitablemaagainst theouter face of thevdoor or wall .ofthe vehicle, and upper andlowerhorizontal` plates 13 vwhich project outwardly from the baseplate'and between which Ythe .semaphoreV arml 10 is pivoted by a pin or`bolt 14; extending throughv the arm and through thek plates 13.

Y The bracket also. preferablyvhas an end plate or part 15 whichjoinsthe front edges of the horizontal plates ,13 and together therewithforms la partial.

housing 'or inclosure for the hinged end of the semaphore arm. Thisbracket or supportV is preferably secured on the door yor vwall 164oli-,the vehicle by screws or other f suitable fastenings 17passingthrough holes I provided therefor inthe base Plate 18 of thebracket or support. l y

18 represents the operating rod which, in the construction shown, ispivoted at its outer end to the semaphore arm 10 adjacent to the pivotfor the latter and passes through register withv said j hole 19 in'` thebracket. This operating rod is provided vat itsinner end, inside ofthevneghicle, with a handlesuitable for pushing and pullingl the rod toswing the'semaphore arm. Preferably ithe operating rod Vis providedwithl a hinged,

innerv section or portion 21 so that when vthe Y rod has been pulledVinwardly. to retractthe semaphore to yits normalposition the` hingedinner portion oftherod can be folded to a position in which it liesclose tothe'inner j position. While this catch retains the semaing rod18 is provided. In the construction shown this sleeve consists of twosections 23 and 24, which are inserted respectively through the hole 19in the base plate of the bracket and through the inner end of the hole2O in the door 0r wall of the vehicle,

jthe inner ends` of the two sleeve sections beving adapted to fittightly one within the other, or to be connected together in any othersuitable manner to retain the parts of the guide sleeve in place. Theguide sleeve has Haring ends or is otherwise suitably shaped s0 as toguide the operating rod and permit the angular movement of the rodincident to the connection of the rod with the swinging arm 10. Thisguide sleeve not 'only furnishes a guide in which the operating rod isadapted to slide and swing freely to the necessary extent, but inaddition, it

provides a neat cover or finish for the holes in the base plate of thebracket 11 and in f` the door or wall of the vehicle.

In korder to releasably retain the semaphore arm stationary in eitherits retracted or projecting position and relieve the driver of thevehicle from the necessity of holding the semaphore in its extendedposition,

vand also prevent looseness and rattling of the parts, the arm ispreferably provided with Va suitable catch adapted to engage the bracket11 to hold the Varm in its two positions. The catch shown for thispurpose consists of a spring pressed ball 25 mounted in the inner. endof the semaphore arm and adapted to spring into either of twodepressions or notches 26 and 27 in the adjacent portion of thel bracket11. When the semaphore arm is in its inner or inoperative position theball will -seat in the depression 26 and releasably hold ythe semaphorestationary in this position and when the semaphore is swung to itsprojecting position the ball will seat in the other depression 27 andreleasably hold the semaphore in this phore stationary in the two`different positions, the application of a slight force will The ball isconfined within a cylindrical case 28, Fig. 4, which is retained inahole in the semaphore arm 10 andthe ball is pressed outwardly againstthe'opposing portion of the bracket by a spring 29 confined in the casebeneath the ball.

To apply the device to a vehicle, it is only necessary to place thedevice against the door or wall of the vehicle in the desired positionand mark on the door or wall the positions of the holes in the baseplate 12 for the operating rod and for the fastening screws for thebracket. The hole 2O is then bored through the door or wall for thepassage of the operating rod 18 and the bracket is secured on the doorwith the hole 19 in the base plate 12 in register with this hole in thedoor or wall. The bracket is then securedA in place by means of itsscrews or fastening devices and the guide sleeve 23-24 for the operatingrod is secured in ,the holes in the bracket and door. Since the baseplate 'of thek bracket "to which the semaphore ishinged is provided witha holeu19 therein for the passage of the operating rod, this holedefinitely'deiines the position in which the holemust be made in thedoor or wall of thev vehicle and it is practically im-k possible for aperson, even though unskilled,

to improperly place the device on the vehicle or spoil the vehicle bymaking the hole for the operating rod at the improper place.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a semaphore arm, a support to which the arm ispivoted and which is adapted to besecured on a wall or part of avehicle, and an operating rod connected to said semaphore arm andextending therefrom through a hole in said wall or part of the vehicleand adapted to be moved lengthwise in said hole for swinging said i armin and out toward and from t e vehicle, a guide sleeve surrounding saidoperating rod in said hole in the wall or part of the4 vehicle, andcomprising detachably connected sections extending into vsaid hole fromthe inner and outer ends thereof and being detachably connected at theirinner en s.

f2. The combination of a semaphore arm,

ak support comprising a base plate adapted Y to be securedV on a part ofa vehicle, spaced horizontal plates projecting from said base plate andbetween which saidv arm is piv- `oted, and an end plate joining thefront edges of said horizontal plates whereby said support provides ahousing partially inclosingl the pivoted end of the arm, andan operatingrod connected to said semaphore arm and extending through a guide holein said base plate, said semaphore arm being swungtoward and from thevehicle by the movement of said operating rod lengthwise through saidguide hole. Y

8. The combination of a semaphore arm,

la supporting member adapted to be secured to a wall or part of anautomobile and tov which said arm s pivoted, whereby said arm nectedtosaid arm whereby said arm may be may be swung in and out toward andfrom swung. 10 the vehicle, a. latching member on the inner Witness myhand this 24th day of April, end of said arm, and latching members on1920.

5 said support for coperating with the lateh- WALTER J. BRUEHL.

ing member 0n said arm whereby the arm Witnesses: may be releasably heldin its inner and pro- M. J. PITMAN,

jecting positions, and an operating rod con- C. W. PARKER.

